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The rebirth of the Old Prince

Acclaimed Canadian hip hop lyricist releases third album, TSOL, this week
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Who: Shad & Grand Analog

When: Wednesday, June 2, 9 p.m.

Where: Garfinkel's

Cost: Advance tickets $10 at Garfinkel's, Billabong, Katmandu and www.clubzone.com/ciaconcerts

Anyone who's into Canadian hip hop has probably come across Shadrach Kabango (better known simply as Shad) on their quest for the latest and greatest new beats and lyrics. Over the past few years, this rising talent has made a name for himself on the scene with his clever lyrics and fresh, indie musical appeal.

But here's a little something that you might not know.

Shad never really planned on getting into the music biz. In fact, rapping was really just a hobby until about six years ago, when his sister and friend decided to enter him into a local radio station's annual unsigned talent competition. He ended up taking home top prize - $17,500 - which he invested in recording his debut album.

"I didn't know if I'd ever really get the chance to make an album at all, so it was very exciting to me. I never really was ever looking too far beyond that."

Even after winning, he didn't throw himself 100 per cent into the music game. He continued to study, going on to finish his Honours degree in Business Administration.

"At the time, music was more a hobby and I just felt like I had the time and the energy to do both," he explained.

So, he capitalized on his focus and momentum, and says that now, knowing he has the degree to fall back on has helped to alleviate some of the pressure that comes along with being in the music industry.

"It helps me pursue music in a way that I feel is the way I want to go about it, and if it doesn't work on those terms, then that's cool, I can do something else," he added.

But so far, things seem to be working out fine. In fact, that debut album, This Is Over, gained Shad instant cred for his tight wordplay, resulting in sold out shows and earning him opening spots for performers like Common, Lupe Fiasco, Classified and The Slip. Next up was The Old Prince, which kept the momentum going.

Thus far into a relatively young career, Shad has been nominated for a 2008 Juno for Rap Recording of the Year and landed spots in Exclaim's Top 10 Hip Hop Albums of the Year and a five-star rating in Now Magazine.

Now, he's on the verge of releasing his third album, TSOL, this week, then he'll be heading out on a cross-Canada tour with two other well-known Canadian artists: Grand Analog and D-Sisive.

Though his first two full-length projects received positive reaction from fans and the industry, Shad didn't feel a lot of pressure to meet expectations with this latest album.

"It more just gave me some motivation, some incentive to work hard."

In fact, the creative process seems to have gotten easier as Shad has started to see the fan base and excitement surrounding his music grow.

"I've always just sort of done what I do, and have never strayed too far with what it is that I feel comfortable doing, and so just knowing that people are interested in hearing that just kind of gave me extra incentive to go in and work hard and come out with another piece of music for people," he explained.

As with his other projects, Shad again decided to bring in a myriad of guest vocalists and musicians to contribute to TSOL. This time around, the roster included TLO, Rich Kidd and Me&John, and Lisa Lobsinger, Justin Nozuka, Brendan Canning, Relic The Oddity and Kamau.

"For me it's an expanding kind of Rolodex of musicians that I've been fortunate enough to come across and either befriend or have a good working relationship with."

So, why bring so many voices and minds onto a project?

"Many heads are better than mine," he chuckled.

"...For me to make a whole album, it definitely involves a lot of different people and it's just great to be able to put that cast of people together, because they definitely make me look good."

And before you waste any time wracking your brains, trying to figure out what "TSOL" stands for, it's actually not an acronym for anything.

"It doesn't stand for anything in particular for me. I liked the fact that it's not a word, and for me, it sort of represents that idea that language sometimes is insufficient for expressing some things, and that's why we turn to music and art."

Where words fail us, a sound and feeling can suffice. Well, fortunately for fans, words seldom seem to fail Shad; as a rapper, this musician is first and foremost all about the lyrics.

"It can start in different ways; sometimes it'll start with a beat that I really like and just connect with on that level, musically, and see it as being something that could be a part of an album. Other times I'll start with a song concept and sort of fit lyrics into that, and other times - most commonly - I'll start with lyrics themselves and then see where those lyrics go."

TSOL's subject matter is all over the map, touching on everything from gas prices and class issues to weight issues and social networking.

"I've always tried to vary the subject I touch on, because I just think that sort of keeps things interesting. Especially the way the world is now, we're just exposed to so many different things. It's not like people can only relate to songs about one thing."

Regardless of subject matter, Shad hopes to share knowledge and insight with listeners.

Those who have eyes should help the sightless.

"I feel sightless most of the time, myself, but I feel like that's something we can all sort of do, you know, when you have that moment of clarity, that moment of inspiration, I guess you've got to try to act from that place."